Learn the Difference Between UX vs. UI Design

What is UX design?

UX design, or user experience design, is a type of design that focuses on creating a particular type of experience for the end-user. While many people think of aesthetics when they think of web design, that’s only part of the equation. Effective UI design can help you build a website that looks great, but UX design ensures your website is easy to use and does everything it’s supposed to.

You experience UX design firsthand anytime you use a website or an app on your phone. For example, some websites use search bars that provide suggestions based on what you’ve typed so far, which is particularly common with search engines. Some apps, such as Disney+, give you the option to autocomplete your email address to reduce errors. All of these small features can help you get a leg up on the competition.

UX and UI design are similar in many ways, and many UI design choices affect the user experience. When you’re creating a website or an app, UI and UX design are essential.

What is UI design?

UI design, or user interface design, is a bit more straightforward than UX design. The UI is the interface users see when they use a website or app, which includes the layout and design of text, images, navigation links, and more. When you design a product page to draw the attention of potential customers, you’re primarily focusing on UI design. UI design also includes designing things like buttons, fonts, color palettes, icons, sliders, and more.

While UI design focuses more on the appearance of your website than the actual functionality, it’s an essential part of building a website. You only get one chance to make a first impression on website visitors, and an eye-catching UI can help you make a good first impression. This is especially true for companies like Apple, where UI design allows a company to showcase its brand and style and attract existing customers who recognize that signature style.

Just because UI design is primarily focused on aesthetics doesn’t mean that’s the only focus. In today’s world, a UI designer has to consider both the design and human element of the interface they’re designing.

What is the difference between UX vs UI design?

From email design to website design and everything in between, UX and UI design are key parts of the design process. Now that you know a little bit about what UX design and UI design are, let’s talk about the differences between UX vs UI design.

UI design is all about making sure the user interface—the part of the product or service that the user interacts with—is designed properly. You want your user interface to draw attention when you’re creating a website, which means choosing the right colors and fonts, creating eye-catching graphics and buttons, and finding the right layout for your website. In many ways, UI design is what people think of when they think of web design as a whole.

UX design is different from UI design in the sense that it’s more focused on the user experience in its entirety. Effective UX design is about creating a streamlined experience that makes things easier for website visitors, which can help build your brand and grow your audience when combined with the right UI. Where UI design is mostly focused on the way buttons, text, and graphics look, UX design is more about the function of these elements. Good UX design helps guide users through their journey on your website, whether they want to browse some of your popular products, read about your company, or contact you for customer service.

Interestingly enough, UI design is considered a part of UX design. The way you lay out your website and the fonts and colors you choose impact the user experience, so it’s important to make sure your UI design choices have a positive UX impact. While it’s important to build an eye-catching website that attracts new visitors, an overly flashy UI that has a negative impact on UX design can deter some people.

As we’ve mentioned a few times in this article, you need to consider UI and UX design when it comes to building the best website. Aesthetics can get people to visit your website, but a good user experience is what keeps people coming back for your products or services again and again.

How do UX and UI design work together?

You might be wondering what’s more important in terms of UX vs UI design. The truth is that neither type of design is “better”—UI and UX design help you achieve different goals, and UI design is an important part of effective UX design.

When somebody visits your website, the first thing they’re going to see is your UI. A good UI can help you stand out compared to your competition, which you can see with a lot of the more successful brands out there. However, UI design isn’t all about the way your website looks—it actually plays an important role in the process of UX design. From the layout to the colors and fonts you choose, most design choices that affect the appearance of your UI also have an impact on the user experience.

While UI design affects the user experience, it’s important to keep in mind that UI design is only a small part of UX design. When somebody visits your website, there are several different paths they can take depending on what they want to do. UX design is about guiding users through these paths in a way that’s intuitive and efficient. In addition to designing an effective, easy-to-use UI, UX design also means implementing features such as typing suggestions to help users save time and get where they need to go. Whether your search bar predicts the location a person is typing in or allows them to add “@gmail.com” to their login email with a single tap, good design is all about creating the best user experience.

UX and UI design are especially important in the modern world of online business. There’s a good chance you’re directly competing with another product or service, especially if you didn’t choose a particularly unique product or service to offer. That being the case, UX and UI design are some of the only ways to separate yourself from the competition. If users can get the same product or service you offer from a competitor, why should they come to you for that product or service? The answer is UX and UI design that makes your website easier to use.

Create a strong UI and UX design

When you’re designing a website, an app, or an email, it’s smart to keep UI and UX design in mind. You don’t just want your website to work, you want it to facilitate a positive user experience that encourages people to come back. UI and UX design may be branding basics to some degree, but they’re essential keys to building a website that helps your business stand out.

Of course, effective UI and UX design are often easier said than done. The good news is, Mailchimp can help you create a positive user experience with email marketing and design. With Mailchimp, you can get professional results even if you’re not an expert. Give Mailchimp a try today and see how it can help you create a strong UI and UX design.